Bottle stopper



15, 1938. G. A. KlMBz-:R

BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Feb. 6, 1957 v e CZ'. ffy

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 lUNITED STATES annate PATE-Nr oFFicE y BOTTLE s'roPPER George A. Kimberychjcago, Ill. Application February 6, 1937,:Serial No. `124,410

7 Claims. (Cl. 215-52) This invention relates to bottle stoppers, and particularly to Stoppers of the composite expanding type.

One object of the present invention is to provide a bottle stopper of novel construction andarrangement of elements, particularly designed for nursing and like bottles, which is simple, inexpensive, eicient in its operation, and which may be readily and conveniently manipulated to fa- 10 cilitate the insertion into the neck of a bottle, and

its convenient removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper of novel construction adapted to cooperate with a bottle neck in a manner, normally, to eiectually seal the opening in the bottle neck and resist accidental or unintentional removal of the *stopper therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper of the expanding type having portions whereby the stopper may be effectually employed for use in the neck openings of bottles having a wide range in the size of such openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide, a stopper which may be sterilized. and which may be conveniently and hygienically handled immediately after such treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement wherein an eflicient sealing engagement of the stopper with the neck portion of the bottle is assured,

A still further object of the invention i's to im- 'prove devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes inthe accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a composite expanding type bottle stopper embodying features of 40 the present invention, and illustrating the manner of inserting my improved stopper into the neck of abottle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational View of my improved stopper and Va bottle neck illustrating the stopper therein in sealing position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of my improved stopper illustrating its adaptation to a bottle having a neck opening of substantially less diameter than those shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of a stopper of slightly different construction than those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

As previously stated, this invention relates to bottle Stoppers of the composite type, and is an improvement on the structure disclosed in my copending application for Bottle stopper, filed February 26, 1936,Serial No. 65,848,

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, the present invention contemplates a body member indicated, as a whole .by the numeral 5, and shown, in the present instance, as comprising a pair of'p'r'eferably elongated cup-like elements 6 and I formed Voit resilient material,` such for example, as rubber or the like, the elements 6 and I having vtheir open-end portions positioned adjacent each oth-erin va manner to form an elongated chamber 8 Within the body member 5.

As noted in the drawing, the elements 6 and I are provided, adjacent their abutting end portions intermediate andsubstantially midway between the 'ends of the member 5, with ,outwardly or laterally extending flanges and lI, respectively, the flanges as shown in Fig.` '2 being positioned between andsecured together rbyrlng-like Y plates II2 and l'pb'sitioned on opposite'lsids'ofthe flangesand secured in relation theretol by means 'of a downwardly and inwardly extending -edge portion I4 of the plate I3. j

It Will be noted that the elements t and 'I of the presentv invention are of substantially different di- ".a'metersa'nd may be effectually employed for use in theV neck .openingsrofbo'ttl-es having a Wide rangefin the' size Vof such openings. Positioned "within "the chamber 8, formed by the cup-like vmembers 6 and 'I, is an elongated substantially "cylindrical actuator I5, by which one or another of the elements 6 and 'l may be elongated, as shown in Fig. 1 For example, to facilitate the positioning of the stopper within the neck I6 of a bottle either of the elements 6 or 'I may be elongatedfit lbeing understood that in manipulating the'device of the present invention to elongate one of the elements, shown in Fig. 1 as the element 6, the other element I will be compressed or collapsed as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted also that the relation of the laterally extending flanges 9 and II together with the fastening plates I2 and I3 provide means against which the middle and foreflng-ers of ones hand may be placed, While one or another of th-e elements 6 or 'l may be pressedinwardly by the thumb of the user.

If desired, one or the other of the elements or 1, preferably 1, may be provided with an aperture I1, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, as positioned in the outer end of the element l, and the actuator I5 may be provided with a notch or groove I8 adjacent the aperture I6 and shown, in the present instance, as formed in one end of the actuator in a manner to provide a vent for the breaking of any vacuum occurring Within the chamber 8,

the drawing, except that in lieu of the plates I2 and i3 for securing the flanges 9 and l I together,

a ring i301. of suitable material, such for example, as hard or stiff rubber or the like, may be vulcanized to the flanges 9 and Il -in a'manner tov secure them together, and to provid-e asubstantially rigid flange adjacent the midportion of the member 5 to assist in the elongating of one or anotherf of the elements 6 or l to facilitate their .being positioned in the neck of a bottle.

tion that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement in bottle Stoppers of the expanding type, whereby the stoppermay be employed for use with bottles having a wide range in size of openings, and that the present invention provides a stopper which may be boiled or otherwise sterilized torender it hygienic, and which may be conveniently handled for insertion in the neck of a bottle.

The present invention is particularly well adapted for use in bottles usedrfor feeding purposes, as, for example, in nursing bottles, or in other instances wherein it is found desirable to prepare a quantity of liquid food in a number of bottles, and after sterilizing the stoppers, they may be placed in the respective bottles, and the bottles set aside in a refrigerator or the like, from which Vthe individual bottles may be subsequentlyV and conveniently obtained for consumption of the food.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to theV precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bottle stopper, the combination of a hollow body member of resilient material, a substantially rigid laterally extending flange on said member adjacent its mid-portion, and relatively movable means in the said body member for elongating a portion thereofY at one side of said flange. l

2,. In a bottle stopper, the combination of a hollow body member of resilient material, a laterally extending flange on said member adjacent its mid-portion, and` relatively movable means in said body for elongating portions thereof at opposite sides of said fiange.

2, 1 1 1,069 which might otherwise cause a collapse of the ele- 3. In a bottle stopper, the combination of a hollow body member of resilient material, a laterally extending substantially rigid flange on said member adjacent its mid-portion, an elongated relatively movable actuator in said body member for elongating the portions thereof at opposite sides of said ange.

4. In a bottle stopper, the combination 0f an elongated hollow body member of resilient material, a laterally extending substantially rigid '.ange 'onsaid member intermediate 'its end porvltions, an Velongated relatively movable actuator in said body member and engageable with the inner end vportions thereof for elongating the Vportions of said body member at opposite sides of said fiange. Y It will be observed from the foregoing descrip-"f f 5. Inv a bottle stopper, the combination of a body member comprising a pair of cup-like elechamber for elongating the respective elements at opposite sides of said flanges.

' 6. In a bottle stopper, the combination of a body member comprising a pair of elongated cuplike elements formed of resilient material and having their open end portions positioned ad jacent each other to form an elongated chamber in said member, laterally extending flanges on the respective abutting end portions of said elements, a substantially rigid ring-like fastener Afor securing said'flanges together, and an elon-v gated relatively movable member in said chamber engageable with the end portions thereof for further elongating the respective elements at opposite sides of said flanges.

i7. In a. bottle stopper, the combination of a body member comprising a pair of elongated cuplike elements formed of resilient'rnaterial Vand having theiropen end portions positioned adjacent each other to form an elongated chamber 4-in said member, one of said elements having an`l aperture formed therein rcommunicating with said chamber, laterally extending flanges on the 'respective abutting end portions of said elements, substantially rigid Vmeans securing said iiangesv together, and an elongated relatively` movable actuator in said chamber engageable' with the end portions thereof for further elon- GEORGE A. KIMBER. 

